David Cameron has been challenged by a former Tory Defence Secretary over his “absurd” claim that threats from North Korea have made it essential for Britain to renew its Trident nuclear weapons programme.

Michael Portillo, the former Defence Secretary who was once supported by Mr Cameron for the Tory leadership, said that the United States was the only nation that would actually deploy nuclear weapons against Pyongyang.

He said that the threats from North Korea had done nothing to change his view that investing up to £30 billion to renew Trident would be pointless.